A surreal typewriter symbolizes the literary history of the Generation of '27, set against a backdrop of 1920s Madrid.

Unlocking the Secrets of the '27 Generation': How Rosa Chacel Shaped Literary History

Avery Sinclair in Culture & Society June 2025 • 4 min read.

"Explore the untold story of Rosa Chacel's influence on the historiography of the Generation of '27 and its impact on Spanish literature."

The Generation of '27, a pivotal movement in Spanish literary history, often evokes images of poets like Federico García Lorca and Rafael Alberti. However, the historiographical contributions of Rosa Chacel, a key figure in her own right, have often been overlooked. This article delves into Chacel's essays to reveal her strategic role in constructing and defining this influential group.

Rosa Chacel sought to define the '27 Generation, positioning it as a renovative force aligned with Ortega y Gasset's modernization program for Spain. She emphasized the symbolic significance of this era, extending its influence to include young prose writers. Her writings reveal a deliberate strategy to leverage the canonical status achieved by the poets of '27 through generational categorization.

While the Generation of '27 doesn's face the same level of scrutiny as the Generation of '98, its status has been questioned by critics, especially concerning the generational method itself. Revisionist views, beginning with Soria Olmedo in 1980 and advanced by proponents of cultural history like Salaün, challenge the rigid generational framework. Mainer suggests a more fluid canon that considers extended periods and transcends generational constraints, particularly regarding the Spanish avant-garde. Today, the Generation of '27 is recognized for integrating avant-garde aesthetics into a modernization project, contrasting with the more radical, anti-bourgeois movements in Europe.

Chacel's Mitological Horizon of the 27

A surreal typewriter symbolizes the literary history of the Generation of '27, set against a backdrop of 1920s Madrid.

García Montero notes the lingering value of the '27 label, emphasizing its ideological underpinnings tied to Ortega y Gasset’s liberal reformism. The generational consensus reflected the youth's responsibility in modernizing Spain. The concept and label of the 27 should be part of our literary history, with Anderson's suggestion to assess how generational historiography was constructed. Mainer, Soria Olmedo, and García Montero highlighted the role of memory, the external nostalgia of republican exiles, and the internal melancholy of those who remained in Spain. These elements contributed to mythologizing the pre-war era and constructing a cohesive, generational identity around the 27.

Examining Rosa Chacel’s contribution as a novelist of the Arte Nuevo movement, particularly her essays and articles, reveals her clear alignment with the modernizing agenda. In her 1988 “Intellectual Autobiography,” Chacel recalls being “totally affected” by the renovation movement in Spain attributed to the Generation of '27. However, she notes her absence from many provincial journals, except for Meseta in Valladolid. This was due to her move to Rome in 1922 following her marriage to painter Timoteo Pérez Rubio, who received a fellowship at the Spanish Academy.

Her time in Rome exposed her to Ortega's thinking, leading to her first novel, Estación.
She aimed to publish it in the “Nova Novorum” collection.
Only the first chapter appeared in Revista de Occidente.
Ortega invited her to contribute to his journal.

Though the novel wasn't published until 1930 by Editorial Ulises, Chacel retrospectively affirmed her incorporation into the “famous generation” upon returning to Madrid in 1927. She highlighted the accessibility of this generation to prose, facilitating the “enthronement of metaphor” inherited from earlier avant-garde movements like Ultraism and Creationism, as well as Ramón Gómez de la Serna’s greguerías. By 1930, as seen in her response to a survey on the avant-garde in La Gaceta Literaria, Chacel, like many others, declared the end of belligerent literary posturing, presenting it as self-extinguished. This signaled her alignment with the rationalist and constructive project championed by Ortega, mirroring the poets of '27's rehabilitation of Góngora.

The Legacy of a Literary Pioneer

Rosa Chacel’s vision sought to integrate the avant-garde within a broader project of national modernization. While Chacel acknowledged the setback to this program, she persistently affirmed its validity, even as pure, formalist literature waned. Her autobiographical and critical writings, deeply embedded in the memory of Ortega's era and her own generational experiences, contribute significantly to constructing the historiography of the Generation of '27. By understanding her unique perspective, we gain a richer appreciation of this pivotal moment in Spanish literary history.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1515/ibero-2016-0002, Alternate LINK

Title: Holzwege

Subject: Literature and Literary Theory

Journal: Iberoromania

Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH

Authors: Miguel Ángel García

Published: 2016-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What specific role did Rosa Chacel play in defining the Generation of '27, and how did she strategically position this group within the context of Spanish literary history?

Rosa Chacel played a strategic role in shaping the narrative around the Generation of '27. She actively worked to define this group as a modernizing force, aligning them with Ortega y Gasset's vision for Spain's renovation. Chacel emphasized the symbolic importance of the era and extended its influence to include young prose writers, leveraging the canonical status achieved by the poets of '27 through generational categorization. Her essays and articles reveal this deliberate effort to construct and define the movement's historiography.

How has the status of the Generation of '27 been challenged or questioned by literary critics, and what alternative perspectives have emerged regarding its significance and composition?

While the Generation of '27 has secured its place in Spanish literary history, it is not without scrutiny. Critics question the rigid generational framework, suggesting a more fluid canon that considers extended periods and transcends generational constraints. Revisionist views challenge the traditional understanding, advocating for a broader perspective that incorporates cultural history and recognizes the complexities of the Spanish avant-garde. Mainer suggests a more fluid canon that considers extended periods and transcends generational constraints. These challenges highlight the ongoing debate surrounding the interpretation and categorization of literary movements.

How did Rosa Chacel's time in Rome and exposure to Ortega y Gasset's ideas influence her development as a writer and her connection to the Generation of '27?

Chacel's experiences in Rome, following her marriage to Timoteo Pérez Rubio, were pivotal in shaping her literary trajectory. During her time there, she was deeply influenced by Ortega y Gasset's thinking, which led to her first novel, 'Estación'. Although only the first chapter was published in Revista de Occidente, Ortega's invitation to contribute to his journal marked a significant step in her integration into the literary landscape. This exposure to new ideas and intellectual circles fueled her ambition to contribute to the modernization of Spanish literature, as championed by the Generation of '27.

In what ways did the Generation of '27's approach to the avant-garde differ from other European movements, and how did this reflect their broader vision for Spanish modernization?

The '27 Generation sought to integrate avant-garde aesthetics into a broader project of national modernization, contrasting with more radical, anti-bourgeois movements in Europe. This approach involved a conscious effort to align with rationalist and constructive ideals, mirroring the poets' rehabilitation of Góngora. By embracing innovation while remaining grounded in a vision of national progress, the Generation of '27 aimed to modernize Spanish literature without fully abandoning its cultural heritage, setting it apart from more radical movements elsewhere.

How can examining Rosa Chacel's autobiographical and critical writings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the Generation of '27 and its lasting impact on Spanish literature?

Examining Rosa Chacel's autobiographical and critical writings offers a deeper understanding of the Generation of '27. Her works are deeply embedded in the memory of Ortega's era and her own generational experiences, providing valuable insights into the construction of the movement's historiography. By analyzing her unique perspective, we can gain a richer appreciation of the cultural and intellectual forces that shaped this pivotal moment in Spanish literary history and its lasting impact on Spanish literature. It reveals her clear alignment with the modernizing agenda.